Floor covering



D. G. MooRE ET Al. 3,305,428

v FLOOR COVERING 2 Sheets-Shea?l l Feb. 21, 1967 Filed June 19, 1965 r Fb21,.1967 D MOORE ET AL 3,305,428

FLOOR COVERI NG Filed June 19 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J fg. Zlo 14 Fl 9 Inventors Donald G. Moore Thomas J. Carstens 4 Bhr? zy/10:12,; jH-tornes 3,305,428 FIJGUR COVERING Donald G. Moore, St. Joseph, Mich., and Thomas il. Carstens, @air Parli, Ill., assigner-s to F. W. Means 8; C0., Chicago, lili., a corporation of Illinois Filed .lune I9, i963, Ser. No. 289,020 6 Claims. (Cl. lol-39) The present invention relates to a iloor covering and more particularly it relates to an improved floor covering having a carpet that is readily adapted for replacement while still providing non-skid and non-trip positioning upon the door.

It has long been a problem in the floor covering iield to provide a door covering or a mat that is suitable for convenient, economic-al, replacement (as by a laundered replacement) aud nevertheless in use provides a non-trip, non-skid, characteristic. It is also important in connection with such units to provide easy dirt-retaining replacement. Many attempts have been made to arrive at a universally satisfactory solution to this problem.

Some door coverings made with the above-noted objects in mind have been provided with a latex or rubber backing to conventional carpeting material. Other attempts have involved the use of suction cups or other suitable gripping means. These mats have to some extent provided non-skid positioning upon the door. However, the requirements of good laundering characteristics during each laundering and during repeated launderings have been generally unsatisfactory with such mats. The rubber backing on such rugs often will shread or tear otf and clog or otherwise injure the laundering apparat-us. When the rug backing breaks away from the rug the desirable nonskid characteristics of the rug are impaired, if not destroyed, and the rug fails satisfactorily to meet the requirements for either good laundering characteristics or non-skid positioning. A further limiting characteristic in the use of such rugs resides in the `corner or edge curling of the rug thereby giving rise to a dangerous condition wherein users may trip over the rug. The same condition occurs also if the rug slips when the users walk upon it causing them to lose their balance and necessitate recove-ry from an unexpected position.

The present invention is directed to the provision of an improved floor covering that provides a satisfactory nonskid covering when in position on the floor, that provides a readily replaceable carpet of the combination and that will not curl or fold under the user when in position on the floor. The combination floor covering involves the use of a non-skid base member of a material that does not readily slip in relation to the floor and having means releasably to retain a rigid frame member. The carpet of the combination is adapted to be received at least at its margins over the rigid frame and to be securely positioned thereon. In use, the edges and corners of the carpet are securely retained seated against the base (and hence the oor) at all times until deliberate removal of the carpet from the frame.

It, accordingly, is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved non-skid replaceable door covering.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved non-skid replaceable covering that is especially suited for use with a washable carpet.

fnited States Patent O M 3\,3ti5,428 Patented Feb. 21, 19.67

ICC

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved non-skid replaceable floor covering wherein the edges and corners of the carpet are securely lseated against the floor and will not curl, fold or otherwise tend to trip persons walking thereover.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved door covering wherein a relatively nonskid carpet-like element is supported by a rigid frame-like member in taut condition to provide a securely located carpet-like unit seated against the door.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor covering wherein a rigid frame member is adapted to be releasably secured to the non-skid member of the combination to provide ease of replacement of the carpet-like element.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor covering having a carpet-like element Whose non-skid properties are not critical land hence may be repeatedly washed or otherwise processed without effect upon the non-skid properties of the floor covering combination.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of an improved floor covering having non-skid characteristics when in position on the lloor and having a foldable rigid frame member releasably received upon a mat and a carpet-like element removably positioned upon the rigid frame member, the carpet-like element being folded to a dirt-enveloping position when removed from the frame member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved floor covering achieving the above advantages that is economical to manufacture, easy to use, and in other respects lends itself to practical commercial use.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 -is a top plan view of an illustrative door covering of the present invention, partially broken away to show the assembly;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the floor covering of FIGURE l showing the carpet, frame and non-skid mat in assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the frame and mat of the floor covering of FIGURE l in assembled relation;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the mat of the tloor covering of FIGURE l showing the clamp means mounted thereon;

FIGURE 5 is -a side elevation of one clamp assembly of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an illustrative view of the mounting of the frame pin Within the flexible clamp means of the unit of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary view of lthe lframe of the unit of FIGURE l illustrating the hinged portions of the frame member and the assembly of the frame with the clamp means of the floor covering;

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the assembly of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic representation showing the toggle-like action of the frame member to stretch the carpet-like element and hold the same in taut condition with its edges seated against the floor.

Referring more particularly now to the drawings and specificially to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the mat of the preferred form of the floor covering combination is indicated at 10. The mat of the floor covering combination set forth herein is adapted to provide the nonskid characteristic of the covering thereby to provide positive positioning upon the oor when in use. The mat 10 is provided with clamp means 12 and 14 inboard the edges thereof and approximately midway of the end portions of the mat. A rigid frame member, indicated generally at 16 is adapted to be received by the clamp means 12 and 14 of the mat 10 to be releasably secured by said clamp means to the mat. A carpet 18 is adapted to be mounted to the frame 16 to complete the floor covering combination.

The carpet 18 includes Ea suitable backing material 19 and carpeting material (cotton, wool, or other carpeting fiber) 20 on the upper surface thereof. The backing 19 provides a flat upper surface for the mounting of the carpeting material 20 thereto. The backing 19 on the reverse carpet side defines envelope sections 21, 22, 23 and 24 along the ends thereof. The envelope section 21 extends from one carpet corner diagonally to the opposite carpet side to define a triangular shaped open pocket. The envelope section 22 extends from the opposite carpet corner on the same end as 21 diagonally to the opposite carpet side to define a second triangular shaped pocket opening at substantially right angles to the first defined pocket. This reverse pocket construction extending over the entire carpet end defines envelope pocket means adapted for insertion over the frame ends to mount the carpet 18 to the frame, as defined hereinbelow.

Envelope sections 23 and 24 are constructed in the same same fashion as that defined hereinabove with respect to sections 21 and 22 and define an `open pocket along the opposite carpet end to provide means for mounting lthat end of the carpet to the frame to provide full mounting for said carpet 18.

The side elevation of the assembled fioor covering combination is shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The frame member 16 is adapted to lie flat upon the mat 10 of the combination to provide an assembly wherein the carpet member 18 of the combination will not curl or roll at the edges or corners.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the frame member 16 is comprised of two sections 22 and 24. The sections 22 and 24 of the member 16 each define a generally U-shaped configuration having free ends 22a, 22b and 24a and 24h, respectively. The free ends 22a and 24a are pivotally interconnected by a hinge pin 26, said hinge pin 26 extending inwardly beyond the inner face of the free end 24a of the member 24, as indicated in FIGURE 3. Ends 22h and 24b are pivotally interconnected by hinge pin 28, said pin 28 extending inwardly of the frame 16 beyond the inner face -of the end 24b, as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings.

As indicated hereinabove, the mat 10 of the fioor covering set forth herein is of a suitable non-skid construction. This characteristic may be incorporated in the mat 10 by forming it with a plurality of ferrules extending there-along to provide gripping surfaces between the mat and the floor upon which the mat is positioned. Another means of providing such non-skid characteristics has been realized by including a plurality of pockets along the floor contacting face of .the mat to provide a series of low pressure areas between the lower face of the mat 10 and the fioor upon which the mat is positioned thereby to take advantage of ambient pressure conditions to provide means for holding the mat in position on the floor. Various other interference type constructions may be provided, such as cross-hatched ribs along the floor contacting face of the mat, or other similar constructions.

The clamp means 12 and 14 are rigidly affixed to the upper face of the mat 10. The clamp means 12 and 14 each, in one form, includ-e a base portion 30 and a pair of mating flexible fingers 32 and 34. The fingers 32 and 34 of the clamp means are in a generally arced configuration defining a base cylinder 36 open at one end, as indicated at 38.

The frame member 16 is adapted to be releasably mounted to the mat 10 by insertion of the inwardly extending portions of the hinge pins 26 and 28 into the cylinder 36 defined between the exible fingers 32 and 34 of each of the clamp means 12 and 14. As illustrated in FIGURE 6, the hinge pin of the foldable frame member is moved between the terminal portions of the fingers 32 and 34 of the clamp means thereby flexing the fingers `away from the rigid hinge pin and permitting introduction of the pin 26, for example, into the cylinder opening 36 through the open side 38 thereof. When the pin is fully within the cylinder opening 36 defined between the fingers 32 and 34 the fingers return to their static positions and the terminal portions thereof reclose over the pin to provide a secure mounting for said pin and to prevent withdrawal thereof except by introduction of intentional withdrawal force. As illustrated in FIGURE 7 of the drawings the terminal portions of the fingers 32 and 34 of each clamp member close over the pin 26 so that an upward force must be applied to re-flex the fingers away from the closed position to remove the pin 26 from the cylinder opening 36 defined by the fingers.

The frame member 16 is supported slightly above the upper face of the mat 10 with form of clamp member and mounting thereof specifically illustrated herein. The elevation of the hing pin 26 over the upper mat surface, however, is not significant compared to the relatively larger thickness of the lframe itself .and of the carpet when positioned upon the frame. The frame member 16 may be folded when mounted in the clamp means. The sections 22 and 24 in folding the frame, are moved upwardly, pivoting about the hinge pins 26 and 28. The frame 16 of the fioor covering combination generally is folded as set forth hereinabove to facilitate removal of la carpet 18 from the frame or to facilitate placing a carpet upon the frame.

To change carpeting upon the frame the frame is folded and the car-pet 18 is grasped at the edges thereof and simply withdrawn upwardly and away from the rigid frame member. The envelope portions of the carpet backing are moved away from over the end portions of the folded frame member and the carpet is drawn free of the frame. There are no snaps to unfasten or belts to unbuckle with this type of carpet mounting to the frame and removal of vthe carpet from the oor covering combination is accomplished by folding of the frame member and pulling the carpet away from the folded frame. The clean carpet to be placed upon the frame rst is folded with the envelope portions of the carpet backing facing outwardly. The center of the folded carpet then is dropped between the folded portions `of the frame toward the hinges thereof. The envelope portions of the folded carpet then are brought into position with respect to the U-shaped sections of the frame so that they may drop over said sect1ons. The carpet, of course, is loosely suspended between the frame end portions when the frame is in folded position. It should be observed that during laundering of the washable carpet 18 the material may be subject to shrinkage. If it were necessary to mount the carpet upon a completely rigid frame member the task would be replete with difculty in that the carpet member would have to be stretched to the extent that it would fit about the outer perimeter defined by the frame member so as to fit snugly thereover. This would give rise to a difficult carpet changing in that considerable time would be involved relative to the time required to change carpet with the floor covering combination set forth herein.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9 of the drawings the carpet 18 is automatically stretched to tit snugly over the outer perimeter of the frame when the folded frame member 16 is lowered into the flat position for use. As indicated in the upper drawing of FIGURE 9, the carpet 18 will be drawn taut with the frame still slightly folded and prior to full engagement of the frame With the mat 10. The frame sections 22 and 24 then must be urged into full flat position against the mat against the restraining action of the now taut carpet 18. This urging of the frame to the flat position places the carpet fibers under slight stress and results in stretching of the carpeting to restore it to its original condition and to provide a positive engagement of the carpet ends and edge portions (as defined by the envelope sections on the carpet backing) with the frame member. This taut engagement of the carpet 18 with the frame member 16 provides means to keep the carpet ends, corners and edges from folding or curling d-uring use. The complete combination of the mat, frame and carpet, of course, provide means for the use of an easily launderable carpeting material in the combination while still retaining the desirable features of non-skid protection of the mat when in use on the floor. The non-skid characteristic of the combination is provided by the mat 10. The additional desirable characteristic of the completed fioor covering combination during use resides in the fact that the carpet Will not fold or curl and thereby Will not present a hazard to travel thereover.

The above noted features along with the added advantage of being able to provide a carpeting material that may repeatedly be laundered without deleterious effect upon the required characteristics of such carpeting results in the provi-sion of a fioor covering that may effectively be used over extended periods with substantially equal efiiciency during all periods of use.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably used with a washable rug-like unit 18. Such uni-ts may be serviced by a linen suply concern in much the same fashion as wiping cloths, roll towels, and linen is supplied. The service representative can readily fold up the form 16 to envelop the dirt on `the exposed rug face, pull up the folded frame to detach the same from the base 10, withdraw the frame from the rug, place the rug (still folded) in a protective container if desired, place the replacement over the frame, replace the frame on the base 10, and then unfold the frame to stretch the rug and seat the margins of the same down against the floor.

It should be observed that the clamp means of the present invention are not necessarily set forth in true propor-tion in the drawings but are presented in form to illustrate the invention in full and complete detail.

The unit of the present invention can be used with replaceable rug-like units of paper or other material. In the appended claims the term rug7 is used broadly to include carpet-like elements of textile, paper, plastic, or other suitable material.

While a specific embodiment of the present invention is shown and described it will, of course, be understood that other modifications and alternative construction may be used without department from the true spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and alternative constructions as fall Within their true spirit and scope.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A non-tripping floor covering device having a readily replaced dirt-collecting rug unit comprising in combination:

a fiat mat adapted to rest on a fioor in non-skid relation thereto; a rug of extent to fit within the confines of the mat, de-

fining a shape symmetrical about an axis and adapted at its margins to receive a frame;

a frame defining edges received by the margins of the rug, having sufficient edge hold-down effect to anchor the margins of the rug against the mat, and foldable 6 about said axis to permit the rug to be folded to faceto-face dirt entrapping condi-tion;

the frame and the mat being detachably secured together along said axis.

2. A non-tripping floor covering device having a readily replaced dirt-collecting rug unit comprising in combination:

a mat defining a plane and adapted to rest on a fioor in non-skid relation thereto;

a rug of extent to fit Within the confines of the mat, defining a shape symmetrical about an axis, and adapted at its margins to `receive a frame;

a frame defining edges received by the margins of the rug, having sufficient edge hold-down effect to anchor the margins of the rug against the mat, and foldable about said axis to permit the rug to be folded to face-toeface dirt entrapping condition;

the frame and the mat being detachably secured together along said axis and locating said axis above the plane defined by said mat to locate the frame in over-center concave-down position.

3. A non-tripping fioor covering device having a readily replaced dirt-collecting rug unit comprising in combination:

a mat defining a plane and adapted to rest on a floor in non-skid relation thereto;

a r-ug of extent to fit Within the confines of the mat, defining a shape symmetrical about an axis and adapted at its margins to receive a frame;

a frame defining edges received by the margins of the rug, having sufiicient edge hold-down effect to anchor the margins of the rug against the mat, and foldable about said axis to permit the rug to be folded to face-to-face dirt entrapping condition;

the frame and the mat having mating detachable pin and socket parts serving, in assembled condition, to locate said axis `above the plane defined by said mat to locate the frame in over-center concave-down position.

4. A fioor covering comprising, in combination:

a mat adapted to provide non-skid position upon a fioor;

clamp means affixed to said mat, said clamp means each having flexible prongs defining a releasable pin retaining openings;

a foldable frame member having a pair of interconnected rigid sections pivotable about an axis, said frame member having pins on said axis extending therefrom, and adapted to be releasably received one in each of the clamp members, the pins being of size to be inserted between the flexible prongs into the pin receiving openings, and

a rug defining a walking surface on one side thereof and a pair of open pockets on either end of the other side thereof, said pockets adapted to be received over the frame sections mounting of the rug on the frame and stretch the rug when the frame is in fiat position of fold.

5. A floor covering comprising, in combination:

a mat adapted to provide non-skid positioning upon a fioor;

clamp means affixed to said mat, said clamp means defining a base section affixed to the mat and a pair of upstanding flexible prongs extending from said rbase section in spaced relation to define a cavity in the form of a base cylinder open at its top to form a pin-receiving opening;

a foldable frame member having a pair of pivotally interconnected rigid sections, said frame member having pins extending therefrom and adapted to be releasably received respectively the pin receiving cavities of the clamp means; and,

a replaceable rug defining a walking surface on one side thereof and a pair of open pockets on either end of the other side thereof, said pockets being adapted 7 8 to be received over the frame sections for mounting pin receiving openings of the clamp means, respecof the rug on the frame with the frame laid down tively, the frame having two parts foldable about the Hat and securing the margins of the rug against the axis defined by said pins and of shape to receive the mat. carpet-like unit and to stretch the same tightly when 6. A floor covering unit adapted to receive a carpet- 5 the frame parts are in substantially coplanar relalike unit having a central axis and pockets located at the tion. edges spaced from said axis, comprising, in combination:

support means shaped to support the carpet-like unit References Cited by the Examiner when in the at position; a pair of clamp units affixed to said 4support means, said 10 UNITED s TATES PATENTS units each having a pair of exible upstanding prongs 2,771,383 11/ 1956 Flne 161-53 which coact to dene an opening adapted to receive 3,047,903 8/1962 Relllhard 161-39 XR a pin pressed down from above; a frame member having pins extending therefrom, said ALEXANDER WYMAN P'lma'y Examiner' pins being adapted releasably to be received in the 15 I. STEINBERG, ASSl'Sfafl Examiner. 

1. AN NON-TRIPPING FLOOR COVERING DEVICE HAVING A READILY REPLACED DIRT-COLLECTING RUG UNIT COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A FLAT MAT ADAPTED TO REST ON A FLOOR IN NON-SKID RELATION THERETO; A RUG OF EXTENT TO FIT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE MAT, DEFINING A SHAPE SYMMETRICAL ABOUT AN AXIS AND ADAPTED AT ITS MARGINS TO RECEIVE A FRAME; A FRAME DEFINING EDGES RECEIVED BY THE MARGINS OF THE RUG, HAVING SUFFICIENT EDGE HOLD-DOWN EFFECT TO ANCHOR THE MARGINS OF THE RUG AGAINST THE MAT, AND FOLDABLE ABOUT SAID AXIS TO PERMIT THE RUG TO BE FOLDED TO FACETO-FACE DIRT ENTRAPPING CONDITIONS; THE FRAME AND THE MAT BEING DETACHABLY SECURED TOGETHER ALONG SAID AXIS. 